Monarch: Legacy of Monsters boasts a diverse cast of its human characters, some of whom are played by multiple actors at different times.
A direct sequel to 2014’s Godzilla and part of Legendary Pictures’ larger Monsterverse franchise, the Apple TV+ original series features the thermonuclear lizard and numerous other creatures from its creator Toho’s roster.
While the Monsterverse consists of many Titans, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters also offers a promising ensemble of human characters.
1. The Randa Family
William “Bill” Randa
John Goodman reprises his Kong: Skull Island role as Monarch’s intelligent and strategic researcher, Bill Randa. While his younger version is played by Anders Holm, Goodman’s character has his fair share of fighting Titans in the series.
Anders Holms plays Bill in the 1950s timeline. Before meeting Lee Shaw and Keiko Miura in the Philippines jungle, he researched mysterious patterns of an ancient dragon-like creature rumored to live in the area. Given his last name, Bill Randa is one of the most enigmatic characters of the series.
As the paternal grandfather of the show’s lead characters, Cate and Kentaro Randa, he meets Shaw and Dr. Muira as they are on their way to research radioisotopes that are being emitted from Kazakhstan.
First seen in Kong: Skull Island, William “Bill” Randa is a cryptozoologist who later begins working for Monarch in search of the truth about Titans and other monsters that have existed on Earth for thousands of years.
Before his death on Skull Island, Bill throws a bag of Monarch secrets into the sea meant for his son, Hiroshi, to find and preserve.
Bill and Miura marry and have Hiroshi. Bill was also aboard the U.S.S. Lawton, a Navy ship that sank under mysterious circumstances off of Pearl Harbor in 1944 but was later discovered in the Philippines by Bill and Keiko Miura.
Bill and Miura marry and have Hiroshi.
Dr. Keiko Muira
Perhaps one of the series’s most central and pivotal roles, Dr. Keiko Muira, is played by Mari Yamamoto.
Dr. Keiko Miura is a Japanese scientist who studied at the University of California, Berkeley, tracking radioactive signals worldwide in search of what, or who, is causing the disturbances. She is a Lead Scientist and a field researcher, heading a team dedicated to studying the genetic link between Titans and mutated dinosaurs.
In 2011, she discovered evidence of Titan-related mutations in dinosaur fossils unearthed in Japan. She further went on to publish a controversial paper linking Titan activity to dinosaur mutations, sparking debates within the scientific community.
After presenting her groundbreaking research on Titan-related mutations in dinosaur populations, she was invited to join Monarch in 2014. Admittedly, she held some reservations about Monarch’s secretive approach and tactics. However, their unwavering commitment to safeguarding humanity from potential dangers ultimately won her over.
In 2018, she ventured on expeditions to Isla de Mona and Skull Island and tirelessly delved into uncharted territory. Her efforts yielded exciting discoveries about the connection between Titans and dinosaurs and the possibility of Titan-influenced changes in today’s ecosystems.
As the paternal grandmother of Cate and Kentaro Randa, it’s to be assumed that she and Bill eventually become romantically involved, resulting in the birth of Cate and Kentaro’s father, Hiroshi Randa.
Hiroshi Randa
Hiroshi Randa lived a dual life that spanned two different continents. As the son of Bill Randa and Dr. Keiko Miura, he had a family in San Francisco and another in Tokyo.
Despite the secrecy surrounding his work at Monarch, a monster research organization, Hiroshi spent most of his time traveling to remote corners of the world. His two families received little of his attention, causing a rift between them.
However, after the destructive attack of Godzilla in San Francisco in 2014, Hiroshi’s life took a mysterious turn. Monarch asked him to fly to Alaska, but he never returned. Though the authorities believed his plane had crashed, no wreckage was ever found.
Years later, Hiroshi’s son, Kentaro, and daughter, Cate, unearthed a bag of classified Monarch secrets in his Tokyo office. Little did they know that their discovery would trigger a search by Monarch, who was determined to keep their secrets safe.
Cate Randa
The human cast of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is led by Anna Sawai as Cate. The actress plays a former schoolteacher who is also a survivor of G-Day: that’s the day Godzilla attacked San Francisco in the 2014 movie.
As a former teacher who had witnessed a school bus full of her students fall off the edge of a precipice, she struggles with internal trauma in the aftermath.
Cate Randa is the daughter of Hiroshi and Caroline Randa and lives in San Francisco. We also learn that she lost her father, Hiroshi Randa, around the same time and is traveling to Tokyo, Japan, to settle his affair.
Soon after her arrival, she learns that her father had an entire second family living in an apartment under his name. With the help of her newfound half-brother, she is determined to get answers about who her father was and the extent of his involvement with the Monarch organization.
Kentaro Randa
Kentaro Randa is the son of Hiroshi and Emiko Randa and lives in Tokyo, Japan. Kentaro’s life as a young artist is upended when his secret sister, Cate Randa, shows up at the apartment he shares with his mother, asking about their recently deceased father.
Their investigation sends the Monarch goons to his apartment in Tokyo. However, Kentaro narrowly escapes after his mother gives him a picture of his “Uncle” Lee Shaw.
Lee Shaw
As the series bounces back and forth between timelines, Wyatt Russell plays the younger version of Lee Shaw.
We are first introduced to him as an Army Lieutenant when he is sent on a military excursion to escort Dr. Keiko Muira to investigate abnormal radioactivity detected in a remote forest of Kazakhstan in 1953.
In the 1950s, Shaw is reluctant to believe what Bill and Keiko are searching for, but after he saves them from a monster attack aboard the U.S.S. Lawton, he’s convinced to stick with them on their mission, and the trio work together until Keiko died in 1959.
Introduced in the second episode of the series, Kurt Russell plays the aged version of his son Wyatt’s character, Lee Shaw.
In 2015, Shaw lives in an assisted living facility outside Tokyo, where he’s heavily monitored by Monarch, even at his advanced age. When Kentaro and Cate locate their “Uncle” Shaw at the end of episode 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, he informs them what they know about their father’s death is likely a lie, but pursuing the truth will have consequences.
He alone has the answers to the multitude of questions that Cate and Kentaro have regarding their father, Hiroshi, and his connection to the mysterious Monarch organization.
The Randa family and the Serizawa family are two distinct families in the Monsterverse. The Randa family takes center stage in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, chronicling their ties to mighty Titans like Godzilla and Kong.
Across various periods, the show delves into the intricate history and fascinating experiences of the Randas, a multi-generational clan with a mysterious connection to the massive creatures.
On the other hand, Ren Serizawa is the son of the late Dr. Ishirō Serizawa, who works for Apex Cybernetics as their chief technology officer. Ren debuted in the Monsterverse in the movie “Godzilla vs. Kong” but did not mention his father or what he did to save the planet in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters “.
3. Did the Randa family create the Monarch?
The Randa Family played a key role in founding the Monarch. However, they were not single-handedly responsible for its growth.
Bill Randa: He was a pioneering cryptozoologist who, back in the 1950s, was one of the first individuals to encounter and delve into the fascinating world of Titans.
These grandiose monsters have long perplexed humanity. Working alongside brilliant minds like Keiko Mua and Lee Shaw, Randa’s groundbreaking research ultimately paved the way for establishing the renowned organization, Monarch.
Other Randa family members: Throughout the years, other members of the Randa family have held leadership positions within Monarch, contributing to its development and research.
4. Monarch Supporting Cast
May Olowe-Hewitt
May, an American residing in Japan, exudes an air of toughness, but underneath her exterior lies a compassionate soul who is always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Her remarkable ability to decipher codes proves invaluable in her involvement with the Titans’ conspiracy in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. She joined Monarch Operations as a field agent, utilizing her unique skills to track and monitor Titan activity.
May Olowe-Hewitt is the daughter of Iris West and Barry Allen. Inheriting her father’s metahuman abilities, May manifests a unique ability to sense and manipulate energy fields, allowing her to perceive Titans and understand their intentions.
Portrayed by Kiersey Clemons, May’s breakout role in the beloved comedy Dope as the quirky and endearing friend of the main character only adds to her charm as an empathetic and tech-savvy character.
Godzilla
The monster movie icon Godzilla, or Gojira as he’s known in Japan, shows up in some crucial scenes in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. As parts of the narrative occur after Godzilla ravages San Francisco, more context will be offered on the events preceding his big fight against Gidorah and, later, Kong.
The 2014 Godzilla movie will be explicitly referenced in flashback scenes that show him wreaking havoc in San Francisco.
5. About Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is an American monster television series created by Chris Black and developed by Black and Matt Fraction for the streaming service Apple TV+ based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. It is the sixth installment and the second television series in the MonsterVerse franchise.
The series follows members of the organization Monarch as they encounter Godzilla and other monsters, known as “Titans,” over a half-century, following the events of Godzilla (2014). Black serves as a showrunner.
The series stars Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski, alongside Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell in the shared role of Lee Shaw. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premiered on Apple TV+ on November 17, 2023, to positive reviews from critics.
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